Babysitting and the parents have just called me drunk…

sueelleker · 29/04/2026 08:31

wishingonastar101 · 27/04/2026 10:01

No blankets on the sofa? That's madness! I would freeze without a snuggly quilt or something on the sofa. How odd! Do other people not have quilts / blankets etc on the sofa?

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I don't. I have throw covers, because I have a dog. But they're not "snuggly" ones.

2Rebecca · 28/04/2026 10:47

No blankets or quilts on the sofa, if you want a lie down you go to bed. I do have a fleecy onesie for cold days and will often wear a padded gilet over my top.

EnergyCreatesReality · 28/04/2026 09:57

Don't babysit for them again, they're taking advantage and will keep doing it unless you stop.

My DB and DSIL used to do this to me when I babysat (for free as I love my nieces). They promised me when I had children they'd do the same for me. My DD is now 7 and despite asking them on multiple occaisions they've never babysat once, they always have an excuse. Last time I asked which was because I was having a hysterectomy I got told they were too busy but my niece would babysit as long as I opened my purse to pay her!! Needless to say my daughter had a sleepover at her friends instead.

Daftypants · 28/04/2026 09:50

I’d stay over if possible as they can’t be responsible for young children if they’re that drunk .
then I’d never babysit again

CharleneElizabethBaltimore · 28/04/2026 03:27

ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:17

They asked if everything was okay and when I said yes, they said they’d be staying out for another drink.

I don’t have many options now as I’m obviously here and I can’t leave the kids alone!

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what about charging them for overtime ?

hellomylov3 · 28/04/2026 03:19

I remember the couple I babysat for coming home at 2am regularly on a Sunday night. I had school next day in the final year of exams
Saturday nights I could be there until 4am. No way would a babysitter put up with that nowadays 😡

SameNonsenseDifferentDay · 27/04/2026 22:05

@wishingonastar101 I’ve never had a blanket or quilt on the sofa - I don’t know anybody that does.

dh280125 · 27/04/2026 11:01

Free? That's your problem. If it was costing them £ they'd make it home.

wishingonastar101 · 27/04/2026 10:01

ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:24

It’s their choice to make as the parents, at the end of the day. No spare room or blankets for the sofa.

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No blankets on the sofa? That's madness! I would freeze without a snuggly quilt or something on the sofa. How odd! Do other people not have quilts / blankets etc on the sofa?

tommyhoundmum · 27/04/2026 09:13

This happened to my daugher when she was in her teens. The family she was babysitting for stayed out until 1 in the morning and did not even make sure she was safe going home.

JayJayj · 26/04/2026 20:47

You need to grow a backbone.
When they rang and said they were having another drink, you should have said that they were already late and you want to go home. You are allowed to do that since you are the one babysitting.

I would not be babysitting again and I would let them know why.

Newsenmum · 26/04/2026 20:32

They dont sound like nice people.

tommyhoundmum · 26/04/2026 19:57

ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:16

45 minutes after they were meant to be home, steaming, from a club.

I can see this being a 2/3am job. I’ve got plans tomorrow and they’re family, so I do this for free.

AIBU to be raging?

No

Delphiniumandlupins · 26/04/2026 18:51

You've said you couldn't tell two adults what to do but when they said they were having another drink you didn't have to say "Oh, okay". You should have said "That would be really inconvenient and rude because we agreed you would be home before 11 pm".

Iloveacurry · 26/04/2026 17:34

I think the op knows she doesn’t have to babysit for them again! I certainly wouldn’t.

ccccccccc · 26/04/2026 16:22

ThatBlackCat · 26/04/2026 12:44

Well you're teaching her to not take responsibility. You're letting her down as a parent. And no, she does not 'need a life' she can do that when her kids are adults. She needs to be a parent, not out on the piss like a teenager. You aren't helping her. The sooner you put your foot down and say no more, the sooner she will be forced to grow up and become a responsible parent.

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She's 40, very responsible, full time job, two adopted children and is a foster carer. She deserves a break.

Isobel201 · 26/04/2026 13:08

SirAlbusRumbledore · 25/04/2026 23:20

I thought from your thread title they had said YOU were drunk!

All you can do is ask them to get home asap as it’s beyond the agreed time.

then make an assessment as to whether it’s safe to leave the kids with them (start making plans now as to what the options are).

and NEVER babysit for them again.

Same I was reading the title that way lol

ThreadGuardDog · 26/04/2026 13:02

Really not sure why people allow themselves to be treated like this. It’s simple, if this is the first time they have done this, then your decision not to babysit again should be based on whether you want to take the chance they’ll do it again and if so, be very, very clear that if there’s a repeat of any CF behaviour it will be the last time. If they have form, then you refuse to babysit again. And they should be paying you. Family or not, they taking the piss by expecting you to do it for free. If they can afford to stay out getting hammered, they can afford to pay you for your time.

Yetone · 26/04/2026 12:57

OP, really you should not be babysitting for free and they have taken a liberty but not paying you. My daughter used to babysit when she was younger for someone close. When she told them she didn’t want any money, they bought her a voucher.

ThatBlackCat · 26/04/2026 12:54

Iatethelastbiscuit · 26/04/2026 12:50

Get into their PJs, get into their bed and go to sleep. That’ll teach them

You're way late, she's already home. If you click on the link it takes you only to the OP's posts in this thread.

Babysitting and the parents have just called me drunk… | Mumsnet

Iatethelastbiscuit · 26/04/2026 12:50

Get into their PJs, get into their bed and go to sleep. That’ll teach them

Jk987 · 26/04/2026 12:48

Sleep over at theirs, don’t wait up.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 26/04/2026 12:47

Dont babysit for them again

ThatBlackCat · 26/04/2026 12:44

ccccccccc · 26/04/2026 12:27

My DD does this to me, I'm happy to babysit because she's a single parent and needs a life, but she really does take the p*ss. She says 10.30 and then calls at 11.00 to say she's leaving soon, but often is not home until 12 or later even if she's somewhere local.
I don't want to refuse to do it.

Well you're teaching her to not take responsibility. You're letting her down as a parent. And no, she does not 'need a life' she can do that when her kids are adults. She needs to be a parent, not out on the piss like a teenager. You aren't helping her. The sooner you put your foot down and say no more, the sooner she will be forced to grow up and become a responsible parent.

Therescathairinmybath · 26/04/2026 12:43

ccccccccc · 26/04/2026 12:27

My DD does this to me, I'm happy to babysit because she's a single parent and needs a life, but she really does take the p*ss. She says 10.30 and then calls at 11.00 to say she's leaving soon, but often is not home until 12 or later even if she's somewhere local.
I don't want to refuse to do it.

Why? What’s wrong with saying I won’t babysit again unless you’re home by 10.30? Don’t be such a mug!